Small, pared-back properties, like Grupo Habita’s Círculo Mexicano in Mexico City, as well as Hotel Sin Nombre, a former 17th-century Oaxacan residence invigorated by Portuguese architect João Boto Caeiro and local artist Elliott Coon, debuted during the pandemic, representing a small sampling of the North American country’s robust pipeline.
Grupo Habita also has a handful of properties set for its home country, including the Baja Club Hotel in Baja California Sur, a location ripe with possibilities thanks to its striking natural setting. The Paradero Todos Santos will soon enter the market, with a design from B-Huber that will feature a botanical garden, a spa anchored in Mexican healing traditions, and rooftop suites.
After the success of the Estudio Jorge Campos-led Kimpton Aluna Hotel, situated on the edge of a biosphere reserve in Tulum, Kimpton is delving deeper into the market with a pair of Mexico City hotels slated for the trendy Polanco neighborhood within the next year, both by Arquitectura de Interiores. “We made the decision to bring two properties to Mexico City because the architectural character, historic neighborhoods, and culinary scene make it a destination bound to spark a return visit,” says Allison Reid, chief development officer at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
A rendering of the planned airy lobby at the Waldorf Astoria Cancun, designed by SB Architects and HBA
Mexico is also on Marriott’s radar with new hotels planned across all categories, including the Ritz-Carlton Mexico City, crafted by architecture firm Taller Global and Toronto’s Chapi Chapo, arriving this summer in one of the city’s tallest skyscrapers. “We will see a continued interest in getaways that introduce visitors to new cultures and transformative experiences,” says Chris Gabaldon, senior vice president of luxury brands for Marriott. “Mexico is a country with an incredible art and design scene and culinary heritage.
After the late-2019 downtown Mexico City opening of the Nomah- and JSa-designed Umbral, part of its Curio Collection, Hilton completed a multimillion-dollar revamp of the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort by Los Angeles’ Indidesign in 2020. The company is continuing to make its mark with the beachfront Waldorf Astoria Cancun by SB Architects and HBA. Slated for spring 2022, it will join the HBA-designed Canopy by Hilton Cancun La Isla, which opened last year as the first Canopy by Hilton property in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Umbral, Curio Collection by Hilton, is the revamp of a 1920s building by Nomah and JSa
The Riviera Nayarit is another popular and secluded destination, welcoming the Conrad Punta de Mita, also by SB Architects, last year. It’s also one of two Mexican locales where the Auberge Resorts Collection plans to grow. “Punta Mita was discovered as a luxury market 15 years ago. It was time for a fresh approach that captures the laidback surf lifestyle in a beautifully designed resort,” says chief creative officer Kemper Hyers. The result is Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection, designed by Dallas’ Paul Duesing Partners, with F&B spaces by Venice, California’s Studio Collective.
The Riviera Maya continues to hum with Hilton’s forthcoming EOS Tulum, part of its Curio Collection, in partnership with Guadalajara-based GVA Arquitectos and Amass & G. Marriott is making inroads into a prominent beachfront development with the Riviera Maya EDITION Kanai. Eteréo, Auberge Resorts Collection, the brand’s second upcoming Mexican property, which is also located in Kanai and features a design by New York firm Meyer Davis. “This protected stretch is home to spectacular untouched mangroves upon which the resort floats,” says Hyers. “This allows guests to enjoy the splendor of this natural phenomenon without disturbing it.”
